Siem Reap travel tips
Last April, one of my college friends Mitch Alvarez tagged me in a Facebook post by Ms Nikka Sarthou-Lainez who is looking for contributors who are interested in sharing travel tips for international and domestic destinations of Cebu Pacific Air. Ms. Nikka is a Contributing Editor for Smile Magazine, the in-flight magazine of CebuPac.
Smile Magazine July 2015 edition
Our home in Siem Reap Cambodia
Outside Bou Savy, preparing to leave for Phnom Penh.
Here’s my short review of Bou Savy Guesthouse.
Location:
Bou Savy is located in a small alley just along Airport Road. It is near several establishments like a mini mart, gasoline station, laundry house and restaurants. The Night Market is also few minutes away. You can enjoy Siem Reap’s vibe while walking to the Night Market and Pub Street.
I think almost everything you will need at Siem Reap is within walking distance. It is very convenient to walk and enjoy the beautiful structures along Airport Road. What I liked most about the location of Bou Savy is that it is not really along the road so you can get peaceful sleep when the traffic at the road gets terrible during the Khmer New Year or just to be away from the noise of the vehicles on the street.
Groupie after 9 hours (c) Melva Co
Day 0: Manila to Bangkok, Thailand
Day 1: Grand Palace, Chao Phraya River and MBK
Day 2: Songkran and Khao San Road
Day 3: Bangkok, Thailand to Siem Reap, Cambodia, Pub Street and Night Market
Day 4: Angkor Wat Heritage Complex and Apsara Show
I was staring outside, people were panicking and really worried about the bus driver. It was like being in a video game minus the console and joysticks. We were swaying left and right. The bus was driving in an incomparable pace. I felt I have ridden Battlestar:Galactica in Universal Studios. The road was rough, red sands made the air blurry. It was hot.
We started our journey from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh at 7:30 in the morning. The bus driver fetched the others but there was quite a problem; some of the seats that were given to our group are non-existent (unless they rather let us sit on the toilet). The journey began at 9:00. They say “A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.”, when I opened my curtain, it was hot, but instead of just sleeping, I had a few realizations; 1) I am blessed, 2) God is great, 3) Other countries are really not that far, 4) Southeast Asia is hot, 5) the bus driver sucks, but most of all 6) Traveling is all about being alive.
Delicious waffles
The road was like the lives of many Cambodians–rough. Everything turns blurry when a car passes. Heat is undeniably unbearable. But you have got to commend the Cambodians for loving their country, and for staying true to themselves. I always admire a country not because it is rich or whatever but because it has an identity–something that we do not have. Admit it or not, having an identity is the last thing in our minds. We always settle for something westernized, patronize imported things and, comparing our government or anything to a much better country. That was what I admire most in Cambodia–identity and most of all, nationalism.
Pub Street (c) Ianne Rabanes
Day 0: Manila to Bangkok, Thailand
Day 1: Grand Palace, Chao Phraya River and MBK
Day 2: Songkran and Khao San Road
“May ten minutes pa sya”, Kat said. I felt sick the moment I woke up. The room was clean, I saw my clothes still hanging beside the window. It was 3AM, “Shet nakakalat pa mga damit ko”. I jumped out of my bed and fixed my stuff. I immediately took a bath after fixing everything. We went to the nearest 7-11 and bought water and lunch. At 3:45, people are starting to go down the lobby. We met the others and exchanged names, had a little chat and waited for the van. At 4:30 in the morning, our van left Rambuttri House, it is goodbye then, the short three days in Thailand was one of the craziest I had.
At 4:30am with our travel buddies. 😉
Sunrise at Angkor Wat
The world is not in your books and maps. It’s out there. – Gandalf the Grey
April 11-19, 2014
“Indochina? Indonesia and China?” I always get this response whenever I tell my friends that I am going to Indochina. Saying Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam in one is already hard but explaining what Indochina is, is even harder.
So what does Indochina mean? Or rather, where in the world is Indochina???
The term Indochina was derived for the term French Indochina, a combination of India and China, which refers to the territories/lands between these two countries. Other countries included are: Singapore, Malaysia, Laos and Myanmar.
Now, why did I decide to visit these Southeast Asian countries when I could have enjoyed the spring in Korea or cherry blossoms in Japan? Simple. Because of the rich culture and tradition of these countries. Because of the endless adventures that I knew awaits me there. Because I knew that upon returning from this trip, I will be a different person – made better by the long hours of travel without having a proper meal and carefree transportation; more appreciative of what life I have back home; and wiser with the many lessons I have learned from the people I met on my journey.
Let me share now a snapshot of my Indochina adventure with Travel Factor. The detailed posts per city/day will be posted soon. For now, eto muna. 🙂
